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Abstract:

The present invention relates to the use of syringes for medicinal liquid
injections into mammals, particularly humans, with the syringe bearing a
marker ink to mark injection site with marker ink. The disclosed
embodiments address re-injecting a medical liquid into the skin at the
same location as previous injections. The practice of re-injecting
medical liquids into the same location can result in indentions, hard
lumps, or thickening of the skin, or lipohyperplasia. It can further
cause medications such as insulin, to be inefficiently absorbed. Rotating
injection sites within arms, thighs, stomach or buttock usually prevents
or reduces this problem. A marker is used on the portion of the syringe
that touches the skin of a recipient and causes ink or powder to be
transferred to the skin of the recipient to mark an injection site for a
desired length of time.

Claims:

1-12. (canceled)

13. A method comprising the steps of: visibly marking an injection site
for an injection from an injector; and retaining said marked injection
site for a length of time to indicate rotation of any subsequent
injection from said marked injection site to prevent re-injecting said
subsequent injection into said injection site.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising: inserting a needle of said
injector into a recipient at a sufficient depth to move a shoulder of
said injector into marking contact with said recipient.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising: capping a needle of said
injector with a cap by engaging a first end of said cap with an exterior
portion of said injector.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said cap comprises a shoulder
positioned around a needle of said injector, orthogonal to a longitudinal
axis of said injector, and in contact with a shoulder of said injector.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein said cap comprises a shoulder covered
with a marking ink to mark around or proximate to said injection site
when an end portion section of a chamber of said injector contacts said
marking ink on said cap shoulder to avoid contact with a needle of said
injector.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said marking ink comprises at least
one of a durable marking ink, marking powder, durable marking ink that is
readily removed from said injection site after a period of time, and
durable marking powder that is readily removed from said injection site
after a period of time.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein said injection comprises a medicinal
liquid dose intended for injection into a recipient.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein said injector comprises at least one
of the following: a syringe and a pen needle injector.

21. A method comprising the steps of: contacting marking ink on a cap of
an injector with an injection site; visibly marking said injection site
for an injection from said injector; and retaining said marked injection
site for a length of time to indicate rotation of any subsequent
injection from said marked injection site to prevent re-injecting said
subsequent injection into said injection site.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising injecting said injection
from said injector around or proximate to said visible marking from said
marking ink contacting said injection site wherein said injector
comprises at least one of the following: a syringe and a pen needle
injector.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein said marking ink comprises at least
one of a durable marking ink, marking powder, durable marking ink that is
readily removed from said injection site after a period of time, and
durable marking powder that is readily removed from said injection site
after a period of time.

24. A system comprising: an injector; and a visibly-marked injection site
where an injection from said injector is received wherein said marked
injection site is retained for a length of time to indicate rotation of
any subsequent injection from said marked injection site to prevent
re-injecting said subsequent injection into said injection site.

25. The system of claim 24 further comprising: a needle of said injector
that is inserted into a recipient at a sufficient depth to move a
shoulder of said injector into marking contact with said recipient
wherein said injector comprises at least one of the following: a syringe
and a pen needle injector.

26. The system of claim 24 further comprising: a cap for capping a needle
of said injector by engaging a first end of said cap with an exterior
portion of said injector.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein said cap comprises a shoulder
positioned around said needle of said injector, orthogonal to a
longitudinal axis of said injector, and in contact with said shoulder of
said injector.

28. The system of claim 26 wherein said cap comprises a shoulder covered
with a marking ink to mark around or proximate to said injection site
when an end portion section of a chamber of said injector contacts said
marking ink on said cap shoulder to avoid contact with said needle of
said injector.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein said marking ink comprises at least
one of a durable marking ink, marking powder, durable marking ink that is
readily removed from said injection site after a period of time, and
durable marking powder that is readily removed from said injection site
after a period of time.

30. An apparatus comprising: an injector for visibly-marking injection
site where an injection from said injector is received wherein said
marked injection site is retained for a length of time to indicate
rotation of any subsequent injection from said marked injection site to
prevent re-injecting said subsequent injection into said injection site.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 further comprising: a cap for capping a
needle of said injector by engaging a first end of said cap with an
exterior portion of said injector, wherein said cap comprises a shoulder
positioned around said needle of said injector, orthogonal to a
longitudinal axis of said injector, and in contact with said shoulder of
said injector, wherein said cap shoulder is covered with a marking ink to
mark around or proximate to said injection site when an end portion
section of a chamber of said injector contacts said marking ink on said
cap shoulder to avoid contact with said needle of said injector wherein
said injector comprises at least one of the following: a syringe and a
pen needle injector.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said marking ink comprises at least
one of a durable marking ink, marking powder, durable marking ink that is
readily removed from said injection site after a period of time, and
durable marking powder that is readily removed from said injection site
after a period of time.

Description:

RELATED CASES

[0001] The present invention is entitled to and hereby claims the benefit
of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/280,339
filed Nov. 3, 2009 by Cindy Cohen entitled "Injection Site Marker."

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to the use of syringes for injections
into mammals, particularly humans.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] This invention pertains to the medical field and solves the problem
of re-injecting a medicinal liquid into the skin at the same location
where previous injections have been made. The practice of re-injecting
medicinal liquids into the same location can result in indentations, hard
lumps or thickening of the skin and can cause medications, such as
insulin, to not be absorbed efficiently. Rotation of injection sites
within arms, thighs, stomach or buttock usually prevents or reduces this
problem.

[0004] This invention also assists in the identification of used syringes.
Spread of disease, i.e., HIV and hepatitis, by reuse of syringes has been
demonstrated in numerous instances. Most recently, in 2008, in Las Vega,
Nev., an endoscopy center reused syringes on different patients which
resulted in the spread of infection.

[0005] This invention uses a marker on the portion of the syringe which
touches the skin of a recipient and causes ink or powder to be
transferred to the skin of the recipient. Contact with the skin would
transfer the marking material to the recipient and would render the
syringe unable to remark skin. If a patient sees that the end of the
syringe does not exhibit any powder or ink, the recipient would be
alerted that the syringe had possibly been previously used, with the aim
that all syringes in clinical use would be safeguarded for a single use
only.

[0006] Accordingly, a continuing effort has been directed to the
development of a method for marking the site of injections so that the
marking is visible for a period of time and is removable after a desired
period of time (typically 24 to 48 hours). Desirably a marking ink is
positioned on the syringe so that the powder or ink does not contact the
injection needle during injection to help ensure needle sterility.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] According to the present invention, a method for marking an
injection site of a dose of a medicinal liquid injection into a recipient
from a syringe, comprising: a chamber adapted to contain the medicinal
liquid, a plunger adapted to move the medicinal liquid out of the chamber
through a needle in fluid communication with the chamber, with a shoulder
on the syringe positioned around the needle orthogonal to a longitudinal
axis of the syringe and insertable into the recipient, the method
consisting essentially of; positioning a marking ink on the shoulder of
the syringe; inserting the needle into the recipient to a depth
sufficient to move the shoulder of the syringe into marking contact with
the recipient; injecting the dose of medicinal liquid into the recipient;
and, withdrawing the needle from the recipient.

[0008] The invention further includes a marking syringe for injection of a
medicinal liquid into a mammal, the syringe comprising a chamber adapted
to contain the medicinal liquid, a plunger adapted to move the medicinal
liquid out of the chamber though a needle having a base in an end of the
chamber, in fluid communication with the chamber and insertable into the
mammal, a cap over the needle and in engagement at its first end with an
outside of the syringe, the improvement consisting of a shoulder
positioned at a base of the needle, orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of
the syringe and adapted to contact the skin of the mammal when the needle
is used for injection of the medicinal liquid and a marker ink positioned
on the shoulder to mark an injection site on the skin of the mammal when
the syringe is used.

[0009] In an alternate embodiment of the present invention further a
method is provided for marking an injection site of a dose of a medicinal
liquid injection into a recipient from a syringe, comprising: a chamber
adapted to contain the medicinal liquid, a plunger adapted to move the
medicinal liquid out of the chamber through a needle in fluid
communication with the chamber, with a shoulder on the syringe positioned
around the needle and insertable into the mammal, a cap over the needle
and in engagement at its first and with an outside of the chamber and
having an end zone positioned on the syringe and orthogonal to an axis of
the syringe, the method consisting essentially of; positioning a marking
ink on the end zone; removing the cap from engagement with the outside of
the syringe; pressing the end zone of the cap against a target area on
the recipient for injection of the dose of medicinal liquid; inserting
the needle into the recipient in the target zone; injecting the dose of
medicinal liquid and withdrawing the needle.

[0010] An alternate embodiment of the invention provides a syringe for
injection of a medicinal liquid into a recipient, the syringe comprising
a chamber adapted to contain the medicinal liquid, a plunger adapted to
move the medicinal liquid out of the chamber though a needle having a
base in an end of the chamber, in fluid communication with the chamber
and insertable into the recipient, a cap over the needle and in
engagement at its first end with an outside of the syringe, the
improvement consisting of an end zone positioned on the first end of the
cap orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the syringe and the cap, a
marker ink positioned on the end zone so that the cap can be removed from
the outside of the syringe so the cap end zone can be pressed against the
recipient to mark an injection location.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of a syringe for injecting a
medicinal liquid into a mammal;

[0012] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken at lines aa of FIG. 1;

[0013] FIG. 3 is cross-sectional view of a modified end portion of a
syringe as shown in FIG. 1;

[0014] FIG. 4 is a view of a portion of an abdominal section of a human
showing markings positioned by the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and by the
embodiment of FIG. 3'

[0015] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a pen needle;

[0016] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the chamber of the pen needle;
and,

[0017] FIG. 7 is an embodiment for a cover for a pen needle.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] In the discussion of the Figures, the same numbers will be used
throughout to refer to the same or similar components.

[0019] In FIG. 1 a syringe 10, including a chamber 12, having an outside
11 and markings 14 is shown. A plunger 16 is shown positioned in a first
end 18 of chamber 12 and having a handle 20. First end 18 is configured
to allow engagement by fingers with the thumb being positioned on handle
20 to push plunger 16 toward a second end 28 of the chamber. A second end
26 of plunger 16 includes seals 24 which are positioned to push a liquid
contained in chamber 12 outwardly through a passageway 34 in the second
end of the chamber. The chamber includes markings 14 which enable the
user to determine the size of a medicinal dose ejected from the chamber.
The material ejected from the chamber is passed through a needle 32 which
in use is inserted into a recipient of a dose of medicinal liquid.

[0020] As typically provided, syringe 10 includes a cap 40 which is
positioned over a section 30 of chamber 12 to protect needle 32. Cap 40
also includes a shoulder 36 which engages an end portion of section 30
which is a reduced diameter end portion of chamber 12. Needle 32 is
positioned in a cavity 41 in cap 40 as shown. In use cap 40 is removed
from needle 32, which is desirably of a length compatible with the depth
of the injection into the recipient. When needle 32 is inserted into the
recipient, an end portion section 30 of chamber 12 (section 30 may be of
different sizes and could be the same diameter as chamber 12) which has
been in contact with shoulder 36 on cap 40 comes into contact with the
flesh of the recipient.

[0021] According to the present invention, a marking is placed on the end
portion of section 30 so that when section 30 engages the skin of the
recipient, the ink marking (or a marking powder which is included in the
term marking ink) is deposited on the skin of the recipient at the site
of the injection. The ink may be placed on the end portion of reduced
diameter section 30 by any suitable means.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, the ink could be placed on the reduced diameter
section 30 by positioning ink on shoulder 36 of cap 40 so that the ink is
transferred to the outer portion of reduced diameter section 30.
Alternately the ink could be placed on the entire end surface of the
reduced diameter section 30, although it is preferred that the ink be
placed only on the outer circumferential portion of the reduced diameter
section 30.

[0023] The marker ink forms a mark on the skin of the user as shown for
instance, in FIG. 4 (which depicts the torso of a recipient), by mark 62
wherein the ink typically forms a pattern such as shown as mark 62 when
ink is placed around the entire end surface of reduced diameter section
30 so that the mark is a round mark surrounding the needle puncture mark
70. In an alternate embodiment wherein the ink is deposited only on the
outer portion of reduced diameter section 30, a mark is shown at mark 68
is produced wherein the ink surface mark 72 surrounds the needle puncture
mark 70. In either case, the ink 70 which is deposited on the skin of the
recipient is desirably an ink which is readily removed by contact and
which is durable enough to provide a mark for a desired length of time.
Typically the ink is readily removed at the expiration of the desired
length of time.

[0024] A wide variety of appropriate inks is available for marking the
skin to provide a mark of varying durability. One such ink is marketed
for marking on the palm of a hand by "fredandfriends", Cumberland, R.I.
The product is marketed as a pen for positioning markings on the palm of
a user to stimulate memory. The ink is marketed in a marker under the
trademark "TO-DO TATTOO".

[0025] The end portion of reduced diameter section 30 may have a
configuration at line A-A as shown in FIG. 2. An outer circumference 52
of chamber 12 is shown. The external outer circumference 74 of reduced
diameter section 30 is shown with projections 50 positioned thereon to
engage an inner surface 54 of cap 40. This configuration is useful when a
first end 42 of cap 40 is coated with ink.

[0026] When end 42 of cap 40 is coated with ink, the marking is produced
by removing the cap, pressing it against the flesh of the recipient at
the desired injection site and then injecting the needle in the marked
area. It will be noted that in both embodiments of the invention, the
needle is injected into the flesh of the recipient or at an area which is
not marked at the injection point before any ink is positioned onto the
skin of the recipient. Accordingly, the recipient is protected against
the injection of any marking ink used to produce the marking.

[0027] In FIG. 3, an alternate embodiment of cap 40 is shown where no cap
shoulder is placed in contact with the shoulder 36 formed by the end of
reduced diameter section 30. In this embodiment a shoulder (end zone) is
formed on first end 42 of cap 40. Ink is placed on this shoulder, and as
indicated previously, the cap is removed for marking the skin of the
recipient at a desired location.

[0028] Syringe 10 includes a central axis 66 and is typically
symmetrically positioned around axis 66.

[0029] Having described the syringe, it is pointed out that either the
marking ink may be positioned on a shoulder 36 on an end of reduced
diameter section 30 for positioning on the skin of the recipient when the
needle is inserted full length into the recipient. Alternatively, the
mark may be positioned on the torso of the recipient by placing ink on a
first end 42 of cap 40 for removal and contacting with the skin at a
desired injection site on the recipient. The needle may then be inserted
into the center of the marked area and the medicinal liquid is injected.

[0030] In the event that it is desirable to prevent the presence of ink in
the vicinity of the injection site, even after the injection has been
completed, then the embodiment described in FIG. 3 is preferred. In this
embodiment, the ink is in all cases absent from the injection area while
still marking the injection area.

[0031] While the torso of a human is shown as the injection area in FIG.
4, the injection could be at any part of the body of a recipient of the
medicinal liquid. As indicated previously, the medicinal liquid may be
injected at reasonably frequent intervals and especially if injected by
the recipient. Medicinal liquids which are frequently injected into the
torso of a recipient include insulin and other drugs requiring frequent
injection doses

[0032] The method and syringe of the present invention are useful with any
portion of the body and may be used with injections which are not
frequent but which are otherwise desirably readily located after the
injection is complete.

[0033] While a simple syringe has been shown, it should be recognized that
automated syringes may be used or larger capacity syringes may be used
and the like.

[0034] The length or capacity of the syringe is not critical to the
practice of the present invention, provided that the ink surfaces as
described are available and are readily placed in contact with the skin
of the recipient.

[0035] An alternate embodiment with a pen needle is shown in FIG. 5
through FIG. 7. In FIG. 5 a pen needle is shown and comprises a first
section 78 which enables the user to select the size of dosage for a
particular injection and to make the injection. The pen contains more
medicinal liquid than required for each injection and thus can be used
for numerous injections.

[0036] A cover 30 covers the cylinder and needle and associated
components. The cylinder and needle are shown in more detail in FIG. 6. A
new needle is used for the first and for each subsequent injection using
the pen needle. The chamber is operated substantially as discussed above
and contains markings 14 and the like which are indicative of the amount
of medicinal liquid selected for injection and also indicates the amount
of medicinal liquid remaining in the pen needle. As indicated, the amount
of medicinal liquid injected can be dialed into the pen needle prior to
injection. A reduced diameter section 30 of chamber 12 is shown and
includes threads 82. The needle is provided with a threaded fitting at
one of its ends so that it is readily screwed onto reduced diameter
section 30.

[0037] The sleeve 86 over the needle is then removed and the needle is
ready for use. As delivered to the user, the pen needle typically also
includes an outer cap 90. This cap is positioned over the sleeve and
needle. It typically engages an outside of reduced diameter section 30 of
chamber 12. This cap includes a cavity 92 which is sized to go over
needle 36, base 84 and sleeve 86. This sleeve protects these components
from contact with foreign materials and the like.

[0038] In the practice of the present invention, a surface 36 on base 84
is coated with a marking ink which is transferred to the recipient of the
needle when the needle is inserted for injection.

[0039] The ink may be positioned on the needle by any desired means. The
marking ink may be positioned on the ends of caps by contacting the ends
with a marking ink source such as a marking ink pad, roller or the like.
Marking ink is readily positioned on the cap contacting the shoulder of
the syringe.

[0040] In an alternate embodiment, cap 90 may be equipped with a marking
ink on its first end 42 so that when it is removed it can be used by
placing it in position on a recipient to transfer ink to the recipient to
mark the site of the injection.

[0041] As discussed above, this particular technique does not result in
ink being positioned immediately on the puncture mark but rather around
the puncture mark.

[0042] While either of the embodiments disclosed can be used, as well as a
number of other embodiments, it is important to the present invention
that a marking ink be positioned on a base of the needle so that the
location is marked so that the user of the needle can tell where
injections have previously been made and the like. Similarly, the use of
the cap to mark the site is equally effective, and as indicated above,
does not result in ink be positioned immediately adjacent the needle
injection point.

[0043] While the present invention has been described by reference to
certain of its preferred embodiments, it is pointed out that the
embodiments described are illustrative rather than limiting in nature and
that many variations and modifications are possible within the scope of
the present invention. Many such variations and modifications may be
considered obvious and desirable by those skilled in the art based upon a
review of the foregoing description of preferred embodiments.

Patent applications in class Having means for locating or identifying point where body is to be pierced (e.g., apertured body fitting template, etc.)

Patent applications in all subclasses Having means for locating or identifying point where body is to be pierced (e.g., apertured body fitting template, etc.)